Will be shorten this up a bit.
Tuesday, November 22nd:
*Hearing (
re if probable cause documents to remain sealed) (@ 9am ET) IN –
Abigail Joyce Williams (13) &
Liberty Rose Lynn German (14) (Missing Feb. 13, 2017, found killed Feb. 14, 2017, after walking on a local hiking trail & were discovered around noon about 50 feet from the north bank of Deer Creek which is about 0.5 miles from the Monon High Bridge Trail, Delphi) – *Richard “Ricky”/”Rick” Matthew Allen (44 @ time of crime/50) arrested & booked (10/26/22) into the Carroll County Jail &
charged & arraigned (10/28/22) with 2 counts of felony murder. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Transferred to White County jail from Carroll County for security reasons. And was transferred (11/2/22) to IN. Dept. of Corrections at a more secure facility.
35-42-1-1(2): Murder: (2) kills another human being while committing or attempting to commit arson, burglary, child molesting, consumer product tampering, criminal deviate conduct (under IC § 35-42-4-2 before its repeal), kidnapping, rape, robbery, human trafficking, promotion of human labor trafficking, promotion of human sexual trafficking, promotion of child sexual trafficking, promotion of sexual trafficking of a younger child, child sexual trafficking, or carjacking (before its repeal).
After Allen was first taken into custody he was detained in the Carroll County Jail, On Oct. 28, 2022 when he was formally charged with two counts of murder, Allen was taken to the White County Jail. On 11/2/22 Tobe H. Leazenby, Sheriff of Carroll County, filed a request by the Sheriff of Carroll County to transfer inmate from Carroll County jail to the custody of the Indiana Dept. of Corrections for safekeeping. On Thursday, 11/3/22, Carroll Circuit Judge Benjamin Diener granted the request.
Trial set to begin on 3/20/23. (5 days)
Regarding search on Oct. 13, 2022 at Allen's property reference #926 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...rders-152-arrest-richard-allen.642285/page-47
Case & court info from 4/19/21 thru 5/17/22 reference post #50 here:
https://www.websleuths.com/forums/t...n-the-delphi-murders-150-arrest.641899/page-3
10/28/22 Update: Indiana State Police plan a Monday morning news conference to update the investigation of the Delphi murders & who might have killed Libby German & Abby Williams on Feb. 13, 2017. A news release published about 12:35pm Friday did not indicate what the update might be. The news conference is scheduled for 10am Monday, 10/31/22 at the Delphi United Methodist Church. The Journal & Courier will cover the news conference & publish the information shortly after the meeting. Fox 59 in Indianapolis is reporting that a man named Richard Matthew Allen, 50, was arrested & booked into the Carroll County Jail on suspicion of murder in connection to the girls' killings. Fox 59 reported that the man was moved to a state facility for his safety. Recently, Indiana state troopers searched the Wabash River in Peru, Indiana, about 40 minutes east-northeast of Delphi, in connection with the case. First appearance hearing on Friday, 10/28/22.
10/31/22 Update: Carroll County Prosecutor speaking at press conference. At arraignment hearing Carroll County Judge Benjamin Diner did find Probable Cause to charge R. Allen with 2 counts of murder for Abby & Libby. Probable cause & charging docs sealed. It will be released at some time. Sealed because it’s still ongoing, there will be a public hearing on whether they will remain sealed. Plead not guilty. Held without bond. Pretrial hearing on 1/13/23 @ 9am. Trial set for March 20, 2023 @ 9am.
11/2/22 Update: The hearing to establish whether the probable cause documents in Allen's case will remain sealed will take place on 11/22/22. His bond was set at $20 million cash or corporate surety by the Court on initial hearing on 10/28/22. 11/3/22: Carroll County Judge Benjamin Diener agreed to release more details about the arrest of a Delphi man charged with murder, while also asking state court administrators to help him deal with a brewing “storm” of requests following his order to keep important court documents sealed in the case.
11/3/22 Update: "In response to an Indiana Access to Public Records Act request from 13News, Diener sent an email Wednesday morning to WTHR & state court officials granting several of 13News’ requests for case information. Among the details released: Allen's initial bail was set at $20 million following his arrest. (The prosecutor said several days later that Allen is now being held with "no bond."). Case summary information showing Allen's past and upcoming court dates. A case number so the public can follow new details & events in the case. A notice setting a 11/22/22 date for a public hearing for Diener to determine whether important records in the case will remain under seal".
11/4/22 Update: Judge Benjamin Diener, who was overseeing the case against Allen has recused himself. The Indiana Supreme Court is in the process of appointing Allen County Judge Frances C. Gull, as Special Judge in the case. Neither Judge Gull nor Judge Diener can speak to press about the merits of the case. Allen has a 11/17/22 deadline to inform court of his choice of attorney.
11/9/22 Update: Correspondence received from defendant Allen requesting appointment of public defender filed. 11/11/22 Update: Allen Superior Judge Fran Gull has begun traveling to the Carroll County Courthouse for preliminary work on the murder trial. Judge Gull declined to talk about her trip or matters that are not public record. She did say she does not plan to move any hearings or the trial out of Carroll County. The next public hearing will be at 9am on 11/22/22 where Gull says she will also address Allen’s request for a public defender with an attorney status hearing.
11/10/22 Update: If a judge grants a public defender to Delphi murders suspect Richard Allen, as he has requested, that attorney must meet certain criteria to handle a murder case. For one, the attorney must have a minimum of three years’ criminal trial experience. Frances C. “Fran” Gull of Allen County — could select someone from outside of Carroll County. Carroll County is about an 80-minute drive northwest of downtown Indianapolis. The rural county has about 20,000 residents. It does not have a public defender’s office, which is common for most smaller rural Indiana counties. Instead, a judge picks public defenders from a pool of local private attorneys. Indiana pays public defenders $90 an hour, which will rise to $100 an hour on Jan. 1. Also, the state will reimburse the county 40% for non-capital-crime cases & 50% for capital cases, provided the attorneys meet certain training & experience standards. The Carroll County prosecutor has not sought the death penalty. Should Allen’s case become a death penalty case, there are less than 20 death penalty-certified public defenders in Indiana.
11/14/22 Update: Allen has received a court-appointed attorney, court records show. The appointment comes after the defendant previously begged the court for a public defender because he did not anticipate the cost of legal representation in a high-profile double murder case. Attorney Andrew Joseph Baldwin with Baldwin Perry & Kamish, P.C., a Franklin, Indiana criminal defense law firm, was appointed to represent Allen. 11/18/22 Update: The Judge has ordered Allen to appear in person in the courtroom on Tuesday, 11/22/22.
11/21/22 Update: Attorneys for Allen filed a request to be released without posting bond or by setting what the request calls a reasonable bail amount. The court documents in which the request was made, the attorneys for Allen say they’ve reviewed the probable cause affidavit & that neither the proof of guilt is evident nor the presumption of guilt strong. Media Intervenor's pre hearing brief seeking public access to probable cause affidavit & charging info.